EU Ministers Deny Spain's Request for Official Status of Regional Languages

On Friday, the European Affairs ministers of the EU rejected a renewed request from the government of Pedro Sánchez to recognize Catalan, Galician, and Basque as official languages of the EU. According to sources consulted for this report, several member countries have expressed ongoing concerns about the operational, financial, and legal implications of granting this status. This latest denial follows the submission of a new document from the Spanish government aimed at addressing previous concerns that led to the rejection of the initial proposal in May. The document reiterated Spain's commitment to cover the estimated annual costs of approximately 130 million euros associated with implementing the official status for the three regional languages. Furthermore, it proposed strict criteria to mitigate fears that this could set a precedent, allowing minority languages from other EU nations to seek similar status. On the same day, Secretary of State for the European Union, Fernando Sampedro, called on his European counterparts to avoid unnecessarily delaying the Spanish request. However, it appears there remains significant reluctance, particularly from delegations from countries such as Luxembourg, Poland, and Denmark, regarding the proposal. Former Luxembourg Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel emphasized that this is not an opportune time for the EU's 27 member states to come to an agreement on the language issue, as they are currently preoccupied with complex negotiations concerning sanctions against Russia and efforts to establish a ceasefire in Palestine. The official recognition of Catalan, Galician, and Basque is part of the promises that Sánchez made during his negotiations with regional parties, such as Junts and ERC, to secure his position as President of the Government. In discussions with Lehendakari Imanol Pradales earlier this week, Sánchez noted this issue as a priority, with Catalan independence leaders urging the government to expedite the process to fulfill this aspiration. As the debate continues, the question of language policy within the EU remains a contentious topic, highlighting the delicate balance between regional identities and broader political considerations. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2